Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cambodia's Parliament ratifies conventions on nuclear safety

Xinhua | 2012-11-14

The National Assembly of Cambodia on Wednesday ratified two
international conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident or
Radiological Emergency and Nuclear Safety to maintain peace, security,
safety, and to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Seventy-nine
lawmakers attending the Assembly session unanimously agreed to allow
Cambodia to become a state party of the conventions.

"Cambodia
has neither nuclear power plant nor chemical weapon plant; Cambodia is a
country that loves peace, stability, safety and cooperation," said Pal
Sam Oeun, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Commission on
Interior, National Defense, Investigation, Anti-Corruption and Public
Function.

"The entry into the conventions will help maintain
Cambodians' basic interests and contribute to harmony in the region and
the world," he said.

The Constitution of Cambodia absolutely
prohibited the manufacturing, use, storage of nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons, he said.

Long Thul, secretary of state at the
Ministry of Justice and deputy chief of the National Authority on
Chemical Weapons, said that the convention on Early Notification of a
Nuclear Accident consists of 17 articles, while the convention on
Nuclear Safety comprised 35 articles.

Lawmaker Kem Sokha,
President of the Human Rights Party, expressed his support for the
conventions, saying that it will contribute to maintaining peace and to
securing well-being for Cambodian people.